Upload a Photo Upload a Video Add a News article Write a Blog Add a Comment
MessageReportBlock
Blog Feed News Feed Video Feed All Feeds
 

Folders

Featured (118)
Misc News (1233)
All (388)
All (4446)
 

 

2017 ILXCTF.com Cross-Country Runner of the Year - 2A Girls

Published by
ILXCTF - Mike Newman   Dec 30th 2017, 3:45pm
Comments

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

 

The third race at Detweiller Park this season for Waterloo’s Jenna Schwartz was the charm.

There was disappointment in Schwartz’s face after she finished fourth at the 2A First to the Finish Invitational at the beginning of September. At the end of the month at the Peoria Invitational, Schwartz finished second behind Danville’s Shanice Garbutt. In the earlier Peoria race, Garbutt finished third behind Belvidere North’s Madison Diercks and Dunlap’s Campbell Petersen.

Diercks was considered for this award. The sophomore won seven races during the season including a win at the Minooka Invitational ahead of Minooka’s Emily Shelton. Diercks finished second at the St. Charles North Invitational behind Hinsdale Central’s McKenna Revord. She did not have her best race of the season in the 2A State Race as she finished 21st overall.

Garbutt finished 96th in last year’s state meet. Her track season was a good one as she finished seventh at state in the 3A 3200 Meter Run. Garbutt won five races this fall. She finished third at First to the Finish and second in the 2A Decatur MacArthur Sectional behind Schwartz.

Schwartz changed up her race strategy after finishing second behind Garbutt at the Peoria Invitational. She held back in some of the races pushing the second half of the race bring her success. She gained confidence after her win in her sectional race. That confidence grew as he pulled away in the final mile to win the 2A State Championship.

It was Diercks who would have won the AOY in 2A if the decision was made before the state meet. She did not have her best race at state with her 21st-place finish but still earning all-state honors. That state finish was a difference maker.

Garbutt and Schwartz raced against each other four times during the season each winning twice. It was the two races at the end of the year from Schwartz that made the choice a little easier. The Waterloo junior could be a runner to watch next fall on the national stage. Schwartz earned All-Midwest honors when she finished 20th at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional.

Congratulations to Jenna Schwartz of Waterloo High School as the 2017 ILXCTF.com 2A Girls Cross-Country Runner of the Year.

More news

History for ILXCTF - Mike Newman
YearVideosNewsPhotosBlogs
2024 558 22    
2023 1035 171    
2022 1049 193    
Show 11 more